United States Representative Nancy Mace publicly criticized the current administration’s foreign policy approach to international religious freedom on Thursday. Writing on her social media account, Mace claimed that “Nigeria has become one of the deadliest countries in the world for Christians.”
Mace specifically challenged the decision to remove Nigeria from the State Department’s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) list. This designation is reserved for nations accused of severe violations of religious liberty.
Disagreement Over Nigeria’s Status
The lawmaker explicitly contrasted the current policy with that of the former administration. She praised President Donald Trump‘s stance on religious freedom. Mace signaled support for his efforts to revisit the CPC designation.
“Meanwhile, President Biden removed Nigeria from the Country of Particular Concern list,” she wrote. She added, “President Trump is working to reverse those decisions.”
The Representative’s statement echoes remarks made by President Trump last month. Trump alleged that Christianity in Nigeria was facing an “existential threat” from radical groups.
Trump’s Previous Actions and Threats
Posting on his social media platform, Trump previously claimed that “thousands of Christians are being killed.” He asserted he had designated Nigeria a “country of particular concern.” During that time, he also directed the Department of Defense to prepare “options for possible military measures” against terrorist groups operating in the country.
These specific comments drew criticism from the Nigerian government. They also raised concerns among global powers.
The Nigerian government dismissed the severity of the allegations. Officials insisted that the nation guarantees freedom of religion and actively protects the rights of all faiths. Separately, other global powers urged Washington to respect Nigeria’s sovereignty following the President’s threat of military action.
Timeline of the CPC Controversy
This marks the second time in five years that Nigeria has been embroiled in the CPC controversy.
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December 2020: Nigeria was first placed on the list during President Trump’s earlier administration. This action cited systematic violations of religious freedom.
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November 2021: The current administration subsequently removed Nigeria from the list
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